WWE Network

No Way Out 2005

No Way Out 2005
Date: February 20, 2005
Location: Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 9,500
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

This is a different kind of show as there is little doubt about where things are going for Wrestlemania but they’re trying to keep up the pretense of some surprises that could still come. That includes a barbed wire steel cage match with JBL defending the World Title against Big Show and a #1 contenders match between John Cena and Kurt Angle. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNo Way Out 2005

205 Live #138 – 16/07/2019

Hello You!

Back again with some more 205 Live. This week we actually get a rematch of the match that got me interested in watching the show again in the form of Jack Gallagher Vs Chad Gable. The last time these two took to the ring it was an absolute corker, so hopefully we get just as good a match this time out.

Also, last week Mike Kanellis promised doom for the show due to his personal life going to the dogs, so there’s a good chance we’ll see some chicanery from him this week as well.

So without further ado, let’s take to the skies for another week of 205 action!

Read more205 Live #138 – 16/07/2019

Evolve 131 (Tenth Anniversary Special)

Evolve 10th Anniversary
Date: July 13, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentator: Lenny Leonard

This one is interesting for a lot of reasons, starting with the fact that it is WWE’s first official head to head competition against AEW, which is running Fight For The Fallen at the same time. Evolve is an indy company that has become an unofficial feeding system for WWE, which has even sent some talent there for Evolve shows. This has been hyped up harder than most Takeovers so it could be interesting. Let’s get to it.

Read moreEvolve 131 (Tenth Anniversary Special)

The SmarK Rant for Wrestling Potpourri–06.30.19

The SmarK Rant for Wrestling Potpourri – 06.30.19

I don’t really have time to watch all the shows from this weekend and other stuff that people have been bugging me about, but here’s a selection of some of the bigger match requests and such that have dropped in my inbox recently. To be honest, the first attempt at this didn’t do great, but I’m willing to keep trying because people seem to want this format. Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er!

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for Wrestling Potpourri–06.30.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–05.30.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 05.30.19

Hmm, well no real life stuff for them to cash in on this week, so instead we get some ultra-rare 1950s matches!

And yeah, I know I’m skipping the Georgia show with Flair v. Tommy Rich from last week. I’m adding to the list along with the AWA Christmas shows I still need to catch up on.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–05.30.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–Andre Edition (05.16.19)

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – Andre the Giant Edition (05.16.19)

With the addition of the Andre documentary to the WWE Network, they decided to celebrate with some Andre matches we’ve never seen before! It’s kind of amazing that Verne Gagne’s tape library is proving to be more valuable after the company is gone than it was when the AWA was around.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–Andre Edition (05.16.19)

The SmarK Rant for Holy Grail: The Search for WWE’s Most Infamous Lost Match

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Presents: Holy Grail: The Search For WWE’s Most Infamous Lost Match

OH MAN.  IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING.   I feel like I shouldn’t even watch this because it’ll just ruin the legend forever. But of course, I must.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for Holy Grail: The Search for WWE’s Most Infamous Lost Match

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–05.09.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – The Dark Side of the Ring Edition

So yeah, the WWE Network continues trying to cash in on the zeitgeist with three new additions, featuring matches associated with the Dark Side of the Ring series. Which doesn’t air here in Canada, by the way.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–05.09.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–05.02.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – Pro Wrestling USA 08.16.85

So yeah, I guess part of the Gagne collection of tapes was an episode of this wackiness, which was the AWA and NWA teaming up to put Vince out of business for good! That didn’t go well for them, but it was certainly a valiant effort. Unfortunately much of the partnership was spent with David Crockett running around behind the scenes making offers to the AWA talent to jump ship, and as Vince himself noted on the AWA DVD years ago, they could barely agree on what to order when they went for coffee together. So running a major opposition promotion was likely asking too much.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–05.02.19

The SmarK Rant for the Shield’s Final Chapter–04.21.19

The SmarK Rant for the Shield’s Final Chapter – 04.21.19

I feel like this is about as final of a chapter as Friday the 13th the Final Chapter or Saw the Final Chapter. But whatever, content is content and I like having random wacky stuff like this pop up on the Network.

Live from Moline, IL

Your hosts are Michael Cole, Renee Young & Corey Graves

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for the Shield’s Final Chapter–04.21.19

Shield’s Final Chapter

Shield’s Final Chapter
Date: April 21, 2019
Location: Taxslayer Center, Moline, Illinois
Commentators: Renee Young, Corey Graves, Michael Cole

Welcome to your weekly “WWE must have fresh content” show as we get a special look in at a house show where the Shield is teaming together for THE LAST TIME EVER WE PROMISE AND WE’RE NOT CHANGING IT AGAIN FOR REAL THIS TIME. This would be at least the third farewell moment for the team, but this time it’s televised. Oh and we get an Intercontinental Title match for a bonus. Let’s get to it.

Read moreShield’s Final Chapter

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–NWA Championship Wrestling 08.12.78

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – Leroy’s Lasting Legacy

OK, so here’s your crazy content drop of the day: A lost episode of Leroy McGuirk’s NWA Championship Wrestling show from 08.12.78, which was the precursor to Mid-South Wrestling before the relationship between Bill Watts and Leroy went horribly, horribly bad for Leroy.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–NWA Championship Wrestling 08.12.78

The SmarK Rant for Worlds Collide–When Cruiserweights Collide (04.17.19)

The SmarK Rant for Worlds Collide – When Cruiserweights Collide! (04.17.19)

Anyone else have a Simpsons flashback when reading that title?

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So this is part two of the series of shows taped in Brooklyn for Fan Axxess. This show’s theme is pretty easy to figure out, I’m pretty sure!

Brought to you by…

30% Off Orders of $30+ at shop.wwe.com. Valid 4.18.19 through 11:59 PM PST.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for Worlds Collide–When Cruiserweights Collide (04.17.19)

TJR Retro: WWF Raw Deal 05/01/00 Review (Rock vs. Shane for WWF Title)

The big news coming out of Backlash one night earlier was that The Rock became the WWF Champion for the fourth time when he defeated Triple H in a thrilling main event match. Rock didn’t do it alone because he got some help from Steve Austin, who saved Rock from Triple H and the McMahon family making things difficult. It was one of the most thrilling main event matches ever. The Rock’s feud with Triple H continued as they headed into the month of May on the road to Judgment Day, which was three weeks away.

The synopsis for this episode on WWE Network is: “The Rock defends his WWE Championship against Shane McMahon in a Steel Cage main event. Plus, Chris Jericho, Triple H, and more!”

Read moreTJR Retro: WWF Raw Deal 05/01/00 Review (Rock vs. Shane for WWF Title)

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–03.28.19

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 03.28.19

It’s a whole BUTTLOAD of Hall of Fame related gems this week. Too bad, I was really digging the March to Wrestlemania theme thus far.

WWE.com also has new merch up to commemorate the Hall of Fame inductees, including new Hart Foundation shirts that are pretty cool.

Welcome to the Hall of Fame! Honor this year’s inductees with commemorative T-shirts! Featuring the Hart Foundation!

 

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–03.28.19

TJR Retro: WWF Backlash 2000 Review (The Rock vs. Triple H)

It’s time for WWF Backlash 2000. This is the pay-per-view that followed WrestleMania 2000 when Triple H retained the WWE Title thanks to Vince McMahon turning heel on The Rock to side with Triple H. Shane McMahon is the referee of the main event while Steve Austin (who had been out since November 1999 due to the neck injury that required surgery) is in The Rock’s corner and Vince McMahon is in Triple H’s corner. Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley was with Triple H as the storyline wife, so Hunter had the support of three McMahons. We didn’t know if Rock could trust Austin, so that was the big storyline going into the show.

Read moreTJR Retro: WWF Backlash 2000 Review (The Rock vs. Triple H)

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–March to Wrestlemania X! (03.13.94)

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – March to Wrestlemania X (03.13.94)

Well this is an unsurprising addition to the Hidden Gems this week. Not sure why they don’t just dump them all at once, but I guess you gotta make people want it.

Taped from whatever shithole was hosting Wrestling Challenge. It was apparently Locksheldreke, NY, before a giant crowd of 1600 people according to the History of WWE site, taped THREE WEEKS beforehand. Jesus.  I’m sure I probably spelled that name wrong and offended some New Yorkers, GOD FORBID, but that’s what the site said.

Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Johnny Polo. This should be interesting.  Also Gorilla and Stan Lane do other segments, which is not interesting.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–March to Wrestlemania X! (03.13.94)